On 29 Dec 2015, Korea MFDS issued a list of the major food and drug policy changes set for implementation in 2016. These changes are listed as follows:
From Jan 2016, restaurants and hotels are allowed to setup “shops within shops”, meaning they can set up in-house bookstores, billiards, etc. without having to use partitioning walls to divide business areas.
From Jan 2016, foods that obtain halal certification from an MFDS designated certification body can bear the halal food mark and make relevant advertisements. Requirements for labeling this type of food are also reinforced.
Rubber utensils in direct contact with foods should be labeled with “for food use” or have the “food use pattern”.
Coffee and sauce products are mandatorily required to label calories, carbohydrate, protein, fat and sodium, etc.
On 4 Feb 2016, the Special Law for Management on Imported Food Safety will come into force, which requires overseas manufacturers to be registered with MFDS.
After the law is implemented, all importers, internet purchasing agents, warehousing companies, etc. shall apply for business registration.
From Aug 2016, all overseas food manufacturers shall register themselves in advance.
From Mar 2016, compulsory implementation of HACCP requirement will be extended to several new food products such as rice sausage, eggs, fried rice cakes, etc. The deadline for manufacturers of rice sausage and processers of eggs to implement HACPP is December 31st 2016 (for rice cake manufacturer the deadline is before 2020).
From Apr 2016, MFDS will establish a record system to keep archives of self-quality checks conducted by food and food additive manufacturers to prevent the information being forged or modified. From Oct 2016, manufacturers shall carry out self-inspection every 3 months.
From Jun 2016, MFDS will conduct re-evaluation of the functions and safety of functional ingredients of functional foods every 5 years.
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